New councilman calls incumbent's recount request 'defective'

Election officials postponed the recount in a three-vote margin for the District 1 Victoria City Council seat.

Before the three-person counting committee could get to its task Monday afternoon, Councilman Emett Alvarez, who won the seat in an 383-380 vote, raised objections about former Councilwoman Denise Rangel's recount request.

An email Alvarez sent to city staff Sunday said Rangel's recount request did not comply with election code requirements on eight counts.

Alvarez called the request "defective" and said it should be rejected.

Mayor Will Armstrong postponed the recount to review Alvarez' objections.

"I'm not sure what Mr. Alvarez wishes to accomplish, but I am determined that we'll do absolutely everything possible to perfect the petition submitted by Ms. Rangel," Armstrong said. "We definitely will have a recount."